Enhancing biodiversity

As part of Kents Plan Bee Pollinator Action Plan we are identifying ways we can enhance biodiversity and conservation while balancing the important need to keep our highways safe for all users.

In addition to the approach we take for all grass maintenance, there are a few specific initiatives to increase pollinator plants and protect the habitat of insects and wildlife.

Bee roads

We are working with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) and Kent Wildlife Trust to identify and safeguard important roadside habitats to encourage the growth and spread of key pollinator plants for rare bees.

Bee roads are located along our rural roads and are higher value biodiversity verges. They may receive a 900mm (3 foot) wide cut next to the road edge. We may cut full width once every 2 or 3 years or change the order we cut the roads to give a succession of important food plants for pollinators.

B-lines

An idea borrowed from the Buglife B-lines initiative for a series of pollinator insect pathways which connect sites with wildflower rich habitats across our countryside using our road network.

In Kent, we have 4 B-lines:

1. the main B-line is around our coast
2. crosscounty linking Folkestone to Dartford
3. Tenterden to Maidstone to Dartford
4. Edenbridge, Sevenoaks and Westerham.

Most rural roads along these B-lines have been included within our lower biodiversity cut and will receive a 900mm (3 foot) wide cut next to the road edge in April and October.

Roadside Nature Reserves (RNR)

We have been working with the Kent Wildlife Trust since 1994 to manage Roadside Nature Reserves (RNR). These may contain threatened habitats or wildlife and include ancient woodland, heathland and chalk grassland. We manage over 130 RNR in line with the Trusts management plans for each site and with assistance from the Trusts volunteer teams.

Most RNR are located on our rural roads and are within our higher value biodiversity cut. They may receive a 900mm (3 foot) wide cut next to the road edge or a full width cut to the rear of the verge in early spring or late autumn. Some have the cuttings raked-up to help reduce the build-up of nutrients in the soil and are removed by us or by the trust's volunteers. We are also introducing rotational cutting, cutting in alternate years and green hay seeding techniques to some sites.

We work with the Trust's Wilder Road Verge Officer to manage our RNR sites and to develop site management plans.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

We manage verges near or in SSSI for wildlife according to the citations and requirements of Natural England.

Most SSSI are along our rural roads and are within our higher value biodiversity cuts. They may receive a 900mm (3 foot) wide cut next to the road edge, or a full width cut to the rear of the verge in early spring or late autumn. Some RNR sites are also within a SSSI.

Wildflowers

We look after wildflowers on rural verges. Where possible we allow wildflowers to die back before mowing. This may not always be possible if safety is an issue.

Bulbs

In urban grass areas we wait until 6 weeks after the flowering period before cutting spring flowers, such as daffodils, so they will grow the following year. These are cut in our planned grass schedule. While the flowers are dying back the grass will be left uncut and so may become quite long and appear untidy.